ELECTION 2012 NOTEBOOK: GOP enjoys T-Bones& Politics

Oct. 6, 2012

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MURFREESBORO – Republican party supporters gathered at Five Peppers Farm off Sharpsville Road in Murfreesboro for state Rep. Joe Carr’s T-bones and Politics event Saturday, but the fundraiser was closed to the public and the media in accordance with the guest of honor’s wisheds.

Carr, R-Lascassas, and Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney hosted the dinner at the home of Julie and Rick Peppers.

The event featured flame-grilled steaks and keynote speaker Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who agreed to appear on the condition that no media would attend.

The fundraiser was sold out and included dinner, speaker, art auction, and live entertainment by Jimmy Fortune, formerly of the Statler Brothers.

Carr said normally the party would have been happy for event coverage, but it had to abide by the wishes of the governor.

Carr is running unopposed for re-election to the state’s 48th District seat after the Democratic Party failed to field a candidate. He can be reached at 615-519-3184 or at joecarr48@gmail.com.

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Election office open Monday
for last voter registrations

MURFREESBORO – The Rutherford County Election Commission office at 1 Public Square S. in Murfreesboro will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today to register voters for the Nov. 6 election and receive any hand-delivered registration forms. It’s the last chance for those wishing to cast ballots in federal, state and local races to do so.

La Vergne aldermen to debate

LA VERGNE – La Vergne residents will be able to hear firsthand from candidates vying for election to the city’s Board of Aldermen in a debate hosted by The League of Women Voters this week.

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The debate is set for 7 p.m. Thursday in the board room at City Hall, 5093 Murfreesboro Road.

Two seats are currently up for election Nov. 6. Incumbents Tom Broeker and Dennis Waldron are seeking re-election against challengers Melisa Brown, Kathy Hines and John Kleber.

“We know that this is an important election for La Vergne and we want to make sure that voters are given the opportunity to hear the views of all candidates seeking office because their decisions will impact the city for many years to come,” said Judy Powell, voter service chair of the League of Women Voters Murfreesboro/Rutherford County.

A big-screen monitor is being set up for overflow seating next to City Hall to give people the opportunity to meet with the candidates after the debate ends.

The debate will air live on local access Channel 3 (Comcast), Channel 99 (AT&T), and will live-stream on the city web page www.lavergnetn.gov under the Services, Channel 3 tab. The debate is also being recorded for future air dates and will be uploaded to the YouTube channel operated by La Vergne.

All six locations will hold early voting from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 20 and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27.

As an alternative, voters may vote by absentee ballot during the early voting period. Forms are available on the election office website, www.rutherfordcountytn.gov/election/, or at the office.

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Voters may send a written request for an absentee ballot with all required information, name as registered, date of birth, Social Security number, address, mailing address if different, the election in which the ballot will be cast, the reason for an absentee ballot.

To request an absentee ballot based on age alone, voters must be at least 60.

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Program gives voters way
to honor veterans, military

NASHVILLE – Voting and paying tribute to our nation’s active and retired armed services personnel are two of the most patriotic acts citizens can perform. A new program launched by the Secretary of State’s Office this past week allows people to tie the two together.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced the “Tennessee Honor Vote” program gives citizens an opportunity to dedicate their votes in the upcoming election to the servicemen and servicewomen of their choice.

A new page has been developed on the Secretary of State’s website where people may sign up and dedicate a personal message to one or more active or retired members of the armed forces.

Once the messages have been reviewed, they will be posted online. Each participant in the program will receive an “Honor Vote” button and a letter of appreciation from Secretary Hargett.

The program will begin with dedications for the upcoming Nov. 6 election and continue for future elections as well.

“Members of our armed services fight and sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms,” Secretary Hargett said. “Their service highlights how important it is for us to exercise our constitutional right to vote. I encourage Tennesseans to participate in this program, which is absolutely free of charge. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and prepare a message. And those messages to our active military and veterans may mean more to them than we’ll ever realize.”

Reverend offering free rides to polls

MURFREESBORO – Those who need a ride to the polls for the Nov. 6 presidential election can call the Rev. Dwight Ogleton at 615-818-2459, he said.

Ogleton said he and his family will provide this service, and anyone interested in volunteering to provide transportation can call him at the same number listed above.

“We’ll make sure they get picked up and taken back home on election day,” added Ogleton, a past president of Rutherford County’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.